Benefit and grant entitlement for families

Help reducing household bills and arrears

For all families

Financial help	Who can get it	More information
Free prescriptions and dental treatment	Women while pregnant and within one year of birth. Children under 16 (or 19 if in full-time education). Prescriptions are free for all in Wales and Northern Ireland	Complete the form at the pharmacy or dentist
Free eye tests and vouchers for glasses	Children under 16 (or 19 if in full-time education)	Complete the form at the opticians
Child Benefit	Anyone responsible for a child	Tel: 0845 302 1444 HM Revenue and Customs
Child Tax Credit1	Family with children and income less than £42,000. See the HMRC website for more details.	Tel: 0845 300 3900 HM Revenue and Customs
Free part-time early education place	For children aged 3 and 4 in England during term time	See Manchester Family Information Service on 0800 083 7921
Travel to school	For children under 8 travelling two or more miles to school and older children travelling at least three miles	Local education authority/local education and library board

Depending on circumstances

Financial help	Who can get it	More information
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)	Expectant and new mums who work. 39 weeks’ pay (but usually less than your normal pay) while on maternity leave	Your employer
Maternity Allowance	Expectant and new mums who work but are not eligible for SMP (for example because your income is very low or you are self-employed)	Jobcentre Plus/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP)	New dads who work. Two weeks’ pay (either linked to earnings or a flat rate, whichever is less) while on paternity leave	Your employer
Widowed Parent’s Allowance	Bereaved wives, husbands or civil partners responsible for child(ren), whose late partner paid enough National Insurance	Jobcentre Plus/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Care to Learn	Those under 20 who are not working, have at least one child, and have a partner who is unable to provide childcare (because, for example, they are working) and who is not claiming the childcare element of Working Tax Credit. Up to £160* per child per week (or up to £175* per child per week in London) to help with childcare costs (using an Ofsted-registered provider) and related travel costs while you’re learning	Tel: 0800 121 8989 Connexions Direct
Discretionary Support Fund	These are available to those over 16 who have been accepted onto and are studying a programme of learning funded by the Young People's Learning Agency. The college will determine who is eligible and how much they give them	Student services team at your college Tel: 0800 100 900 or Direct Gov
Childcare Grant	Full-time higher education students who have dependent children in registered or approved childcare, and neither you nor your partner receive the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit. Can cover up to 85% of your childcare costs, dependent on your household income and the actual costs of your childcare	Tel: 0845 300 5090 Student Finance England
Parents' Learning Allowance	Full-time higher education students with dependent children. It can give you between £50 and £1,508* per year to help with course related costs. How much you get depends on your household income	Tel: 0845 300 5090 Student Finance England

For families on low income

Financial help	Who can get it	More information
Healthy Start free vitamins and vouchers for milk, fruit and veg	Expectant mums and families with children under 4 on certain benefits, provided you get health advice. Also pregnant women under age 18, whether or not on benefits	Your midwife or doctor Tel: 0845 607 6823 NHS
Sure Start Maternity Grant	Lump sum grant of £500 for expectant or new mums for the first child only	Jobcentre Plus/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Working Tax Credit2	Single parent working at least 16 hours a week, or couple with children where one or both adults works at least 16 hours a week, whose income when any childcare costs have been taken into account is low. See HMRC website for full rates	Tel: 0845 300 3900 (see Tax credits)
Income Support	Single parent not working (or working less than 16 hours a week) and whose youngest child is under 5 –lone parents with children over 5 will be required to claim JSA instead of support.	Jobcentre Plus/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance	Family where no-one is working more than 16 (or in some cases 24) hours a week, but at least one adult is seeking work	Jobcentre Plus/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Housing Benefit and Housing Allowance	Household paying rent For applications residents can pick up an application form from PG House or Bowland Rd BO or complete an application form online at Manchester City Council PGHT can validate proofs of ID required and is part of the One Step process with MCC which enables claims to be processed within about 5 working days.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Council Tax Benefit	Person responsible for paying Council Tax For applications residents can pick up an application form from PG House or Bowland Rd BO or complete an application form online at Manchester City Council - usually claimed at the same time as Housing Benefit	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Free school meals	Midday food for children where parents are getting certain benefits	Local education authority/local education and library board
School uniform grant	Local authorities set their own rules and not all offer grants	Local education authority/local education and library board
Child Trust Funds	The Child Trust Fund (CTF) is a long-term tax-free savings account for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. This is no longer open to children born after the 2nd January 2011.	Child Trust Fund Helpline 0845 302 1470
Community Care Grant	If you need financial help to live independently in the community or to ease exceptional pressure on you and your family you may be able to get a Community Care Grant. You don't have to pay it back.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Crisis Loan	If you need financial help with an emergency or disaster you may be able to get a Crisis Loan; the interest-free loan from the Social Fund that you pay back.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Budgeting Loan	If you're on a low income and need help with certain important costs, you may be able to get an interest-free Budgeting Loan from the Social Fund that you pay back.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Cold Weather Payment	During a very cold winter, the costs of heating can quickly add up. If you’re receiving certain benefits, you may be able to get a Cold Weather Payment for each period of very cold weather in your area.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Christmas Bonus	You may be able to get Christmas Bonus, the one-off tax-free £10 payment made before Christmas. This is normally paid automatically to those customers getting a qualifying benefit in the qualifying week and who meet the residency conditions.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Child Maintenance	If you are a parent it is important that your financial responsibility for your child does not end if your relationship with the other parent ends. Putting an effective child maintenance agreement in place can make a notable difference to a child’s well-being. The two main options you can choose from for arranging a child maintenance agreement are: 1. Making a private arrangement with the other parent 2. Using the Child Support Agency (CSA) as the statutory maintenance service to calculate and collect maintenance for you	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Free prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and vouchers for glasses	Members of families getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and, in some cases, tax credits. Prescriptions are free for all in Wales and Northern Ireland	Form from Jobcentre Plus/Jobs and Benefits Office. If on tax credits you should automatically receive an exemption certificate

1. Many families with children qualify, but not those on the highest incomes (cut off varies depending on the size of your family and your childcare costs).

2. You may still count as working and so claim Working Tax Credit while on paid maternity or paternity leave. The rules for the childcare element of Working Tax Credit are being simplified so that parents who need childcare for short periods, for example during school holidays, can get the payments at the time they are paying for the care, instead of the payments being spread out over a whole year.

Other benefits

Financial help	Who can get it	More information
Disability living allowance	Tax-free benefit for children and adults who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Employment Support Allowance	Employment and Support Allowance replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support that is paid because of an illness or disability for new claimants from 27 October 2008. If you are already receiving Incapacity Benefit, you will continue to get it as long as you are eligible.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Job Grant	A Job Grant is a tax-free lump sum. You may be eligible for a Job Grant if you have been claiming one of the following benefits: • Employment and Support Allowance • Incapacity Benefit • Income Support • Jobseeker's Allowance • Severe Disablement Allowance	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Travel to Interview	In certain cases Jobcentre Plus may be able to help you pay to get to your job interview. This is called the travel-to-interview scheme	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Claiming benefits when you go back to work	There is a service - called 'In and Out of Work' – that makes it easier for you when you move in and out of work. If you, or your partner, have been getting one of the following benefits and you get a job, you only need to tell Jobcentre Plus: • Income Support • Jobseeker's Allowance	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
In Work Credit	In Work Credit is a fixed tax-free payment of £40 per week (£60 per week in London) for parents bringing up children alone. It is payable for up to 52 weeks on top of your earnings, when you start work of at least 16 hours per week. You need to claim it before you start work.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Job Seekers Allowance	Jobseeker’s Allowance is the main benefit for people of working age who are out of work or work less than 16 hours a week on average. If you're eligible, it is paid while you're looking for work.	Jobcentre Plus or local authority/Jobs and Benefits Office or Direct Gov
Heating and insulation improvements from the Warm Front Scheme	The Warm Front Scheme installs heating and insulation measures in your home. The scheme will accept applications again at a given date after 1 April 2011.	To find out more about the Warm Front Scheme: call an adviser free on 0800 316 2805 textphone 0800 072 0156 email: enquiry@eaga.com

Help Reducing Household Bills and arrears

Financial help	Who can get it	More information
United Utilities Trust Fund	Financial help is given by the Trust to give people a 'fresh start' and to make a manageable budget for the future. Putting people back in control of their money. A grant can be given to pay for important or urgent bills/arrears or other debts, water bill arrears and for essential household items where there are no other funds available. To apply speak to debt advice service, such as the Parkway Green Debt Advice Service	Contact the United Utilities Trust Fund on 0845 179 1791 or speak to the PGHT Debt Advice Service on 0300 111 0000
British Gas Trust Fund	Grants are available to help individuals and families in need to meet arrears of energy charges (British Gas bills and other suppliers) and other household bills and costs, including bankruptcy & DRO applications. Applications are normally made through a debt advice service, such as the Parkway Green Debt Advice Service	For more information ring Charis Grant on 01733 421 060 or speak to the PGHT Debt Advice Service on 0300 111 0000
Social Energy Tariffs	Social tariffs are energy deals for vulnerable* customers and people who spend a lot of their money on their gas and electricity bills. Social tariffs aim to provide the cheapest tariff available regardless of payment method. Each energy company has their own social tariff. Current Social Tariffs Available: • EDF - Energy Assist • Npower - Spreading Warmth Tariff • E.ON - Staywarm • Scottish Power - Carefree Plus • Scottish and Southern Energy - Energyplus Care • British Gas - Essentials To find out more about how much you can save with a social tariff you can ring each energy company directly or you can speak to a specialist advisor at the Home Heat Helpline *each energy company has their own vulnerability criteria and eligibility based on this criteria.	Home Heat Helpline 0800 33 66 99. Home Heat Helpline
United Utilities Water Sure	WaterSure provides financial assistance to household customers with a water meter who use large amounts of water for essential purposes. You may be eligible for the scheme if you receive child benefit for three or more children under 19 living at the same address and still in full-time education. To apply visit the United Utilities Website and complete an online application or contact United Utilities for an application pack	Contact Watersure on for more information on:- 0845 309 3001 Watersure

Other Useful website: Money Advice Service website